Namenda XR Latest News

The most feared medical condition in folks over 55? Dementia—specifically Alzheimer’s dementia—according to multiple surveys. Cancer is a distant second.

The majority of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), yet there is currently no easy way to screen for AD. Neuropsychological testing is still the gold standard (this is testing that takes a few hours with a neuropsychologist). Genetic tests are available but only for the rarer early onset form (a small percentage of dementia cases). See More

Studies show that Alzheimer Disease is feared more than any other medical condition in people over 55, even cancer. It’s normal to be concerned if you find your memory is not as good as it used to be as you get older.You may wonder: is this normal memory loss or do you have Alzheimer Disease (AD)? Are there any tests that can help you find out? There are a few ways to narrow it down.Neuropsychological testing.See More

There are 8 million new cases of Alzheimer disease (AD) each year—and while new headlines appear every week about potential cures, it may discourage you to know that many recent AD trials have been unsuccessful, though not for a lack of trying. In fact, there have been no new medication approvals for this currently untreatable disease in over ten years.

What about drugs already on the market? Current medications like donepezil (Aricept) and memantine (Namenda) have some benefits for symptoms, but don’t slow progression or prevent the disease. See More

After a long, complicated path, Alzheimers prescription Namenda finally has a generic in the form of memantine. Memantine is now in pharmacies—though for a while it looked like there might never be a generic Namenda at all.

Effective Friday, August 15, 2014, Namenda (memantine) 5 mg and 10 mg tablets have been discontinued. According to the manufacturer, Forest Laboratories, the discontinuation is not for safety reasons, but because the company is going to be focusing on their once-daily Namenda XR (memantine) capsules.

For more information regarding the discontinuation of Namenda tablets click here.

What strengths and forms of Namenda XR are still available?Namenda XR is available as a once-daily capsule in 7 mg, 14 mg, 21 mg, and 28 mg dosages. See More

Last month, I wrote that Namenda was being discontinued by the manufacturer (see the post here), to be replaced with the longer-acting Namenda XR. Forest Laboratories announced its plan to discontinue the sale of Namenda 5mg and 10mg tablets but not because of any safety or efficacy issues, just because they have a longer acting form they want you to use instead.

Now, why is this a bummer for you? While it looks like Namenda XR is the same price (even a little cheaper) than Namenda, immediate release Namenda was going to lose its patent next year. See More

No more Namenda? Not really, but the shorter-acting form is going away. Forest Laboratories has announced its plan to discontinue the sale of Namenda 5 mg and 10 mg tablets—but not because of any safety or efficacy issues, just because they have a longer-acting form available.

Namenda is an NMDA receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s dementia. Both the liquid form, Namenda oral solution, and the extended-release capsules, Namenda XR, will continue to be available. See More

How many deaths in the U.S. are really from Alzheimer’s? Dementia is a diagnosis that is easy to make while someone is living but to say it’s dementia from Alzheimer’s is another story, as it really takes a look at their brain tissue under the microscope to say for certain. Numbers just released show that 500,000 deaths a year, or more than a third in older adults, are due to Alzheimer’s disease. See More

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